Legend of the Hunter: Chapter 4 - [S] Fight. Talk. Don't die.

[Wessolf27]

> Other Guy: Oh shit! You must have stumbled into a cut-scene! You've got to get out of there!

OH GOD THERE'S NO WAY TO SKIP IT

IF ONLY YOU WERE BEING CONTROLLED BY SOME SORT OF OUTSIDE FORCE THAT HAD A START/SELECT BUTTON AT ITS DISPOSAL

YES IF ONLY THERE WAS! THEN YOU WOULDN'T NEED TO SUFFER THE HORRIBLE FATE OF GETTING BRUTALLY MURDERED/SOUL-SUCKED.

[Oven]

>Other Guy: Secretly be trained in the developing temples for protagonism since the day you were old enough to walk.

[Chaos Waltz]

Insignifiguard> Plea to the spider king for aid

Demongirl> go with your instincts

Were we ever told that Demongirl was sniffergirl? Because if not, Sniffergirl> Take a few moments out of your time to save the obviously useless guard from that crazy demon.

[Torquemadras Trump]

Legend of the Hunter - 39

>Tristan: Impress us.

Tristan promises to DO HIS BEST! He'll find the ultimate outfit, find those exorcists, offer his heartfelt apology and HOPE FOR THE BEST.

But with someone THIS STYLIN', how could they say no?!

You feel a little bad about leaving your colleague behind. It's only a nagging feeling in the back of your head, really. You hope he's doing fine. He usually is.

> Fucker: Be surprised.

THIS IS NOT DOING FINE AT ALL.

Nameless Guard: OH FUCK RUN.
As running: Well, if the "Excorcist" can't take care of this, he's exposed! BUt if he can, I get to live! GUESS WHERE I'M GOING.

Holy fuck a demon. Holy fuck a demon! You are scared out of your wits and ALMOST too paralyzed with fear to run away. It's every living beings instinct to flee from the otherworldy destroyers, and you plan to follow that, if there even was any room for planning left with ALL THAT PANIC AROUND. But you got this. You'll run to the exorcists, they'll deal with this, and if they can't, well, you're not gonna stop running any time soon-

Stay where you are and shut up, fucker.

And then, you feel compelled to stand still.

> Other Guy: Oh shit! You must have stumbled into a cut-scene! You've got to get out of there!

OH GOD THERE'S NO WAY TO SKIP IT
IF ONLY YOU WERE BEING CONTROLLED BY SOME SORT OF OUTSIDE FORCE THAT HAD A START/SELECT BUTTON AT ITS DISPOSAL

You do not know what any of that is. You do not have the knowledge that those from the worlds beyond have. Instead, piss your pants, as your type is wont to do.

You do not move. You desperately want to, but you don't, as if your thoughts were halfway steered off course. Something is... COMMANDING you.

Let's go for a walk.



Don't misunderstand me, miserable thing.
This is no game. We're not playing, here. At least YOU'RE not.
I can see inside your mind, fucker, and I already know everything I wanted to know.
You're just squeaking and wriggling and breathing through your mouth and doing other disgusting things.
All that you can do, now, is listen to the voices.

You do not know which voices. You are too afraid to ask.

Of course you are.

Other Guy: Realize you made 3 mistakes, just before the end:

1) Realize that even without a name, even without the spotlight of significance, the fact that you were going against the fakey-fake Exorcists made you not a protagonist, but an antagonist. You became a character with a purpose and significance to the plot.
2)Realize that you set yourself up to die by not allowing yourself any distinguishing traits save those that indicate you as an unlikable character who would extort or even solicit unwilling sex from poor beggar woman. The universe loves seeing petty jerks get comeuppance.
3) Realize that you should never, and I mean NEVER, mess with the King Spider. This was clearly the biggest factor in your untimely death and/or possession by the demon that the Fakey-fake exorcists are supposed to be banishing.

There you go, you imbecile of a guard.
You are a miserable, despicable person, a complete idiot, and you pissed of an ancient spider creature that plans who knows what, like I care.

Go up those stairs.

I'm sure you ask yourself: why me? Why not someone else?
Oh, it could've been worse, lad.
You could've gotten this girl's fate.
Instead, your fate will be quite a simple one, really!

I'm just going to kill you and that's it.




Aaaah! Fireworks! I fucking love fireworks! Much better to kill you here, no?
Well, this girl loves fireworks, anyway. It's all in her memories. Right next to all those desparately hidden sins, y'know?
Just like when you smacked that old lady, and she didn't stand up again, and you took her purse and were on your merry way, chrahahaha!
Or when that one guy pissed you off, so you sent him on patrol, alone, in the harbor district. Of course you knew what was gonna happen.
Dammit, I really DO live fireworks! Who would've thought.

You are confused and definitely scared. What is this, then? Is the demon going to kill you? Why? You have been a bad person, but - surely- surely you're not... IMPORTANT enough to kill...


The way I see it, you're just USELESS enough to be killed.

See- it was all about a certain scent. More a stench, really.
The stench of magic.
It's not YOU who is important, fucker, it's the artifact that left this stench behind.
You met the guy who has it. You met him and told everybody about it. You REEK of its magic, and thanks to you, I now know where I can find it.

So, now that you know the basics, it's time we finished this. I was rambling for a reason!

After all I've told you, can you think of anything - anything at all - that you could do for me? Anything that would make me consider leaving you alive? Think fast, fucker!

Because you won't have much time left to say it.

Put the broken sword at your throat.

==>

show spoiler

hide spoiler

I like Tristan and hope he achieves Protaginisom. I'd imagine he would be a decent support/tank for the bros.

Well, he's on the character page already! That should count for something!


Sorry for playing with the suggestions like that, I thought it would be a nice twist!

And, hey, anybody remember that I said some days ago updates would slow down? Well, no. Instead, they will after the next update!

Here you have it: the next (and 40th!) update will be the last one for the next two weeks or so - real life stuff is calling... Afterwards, updates are going to continue. Including plans for some very special updates. Let's see how it goes then. In any case, thanks for sticking with this for so long already!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled NPC torture.

[Anthano Zasalla]

Aw, forget it. You're way too ugly to be significant. Sure, there are some pretty ugly mugs in the world of antagonism, but you're just ugly enough to be, at most, that boss mook that real main characters have to fight every other corner they turn.
Just kill yourself, saves you the trouble of dying later at the hands of those "exorcists" who've taken the protag spotlight regardless of their dubious motives.

[Schazer]

You should offer yourself up instead as a vessel for the demon. Your guardly demeanour will lend it easier access to the depths of this city's bureaucracy, letting it rip it apart from within if that's what floats its boat.

Plus, that'll hopefully free the pretty girl, be pretty damn selfless, and maybe get your life saved later down the line by those exorcists.

[siguard]

Other Guard Dude> forget about all this junk about cliches and importance and the relation there of. right now what you should focus on survival, jump off the roof, you could probably live though the fall and maybe escape this demon. at least it would buy you some time.
Demon> quit the 4th wall trolling, we've got enough guys here out for blood as is.

[Ouroboros]

> Guard dude: Hear "I don't like you. I don't particularly like demons either, but I definitely don't like you."

> Guard dude: Hear "You are a useless wretch. Worthless."

> Guard dude: Hear "You have only one option: to seek redemption"

> Guard dude: Hear "Make this vow, and perhaps we will guide you to safety"

> Guard dude: Hear "Well, I suppose you have two options, if you count a painful death at the hands of a demon"

> Guard dude: Hear "For now though, I suppose I will give you a chance to think it through"

> Guard: Jump off the roof, grab the drainpipe on the way down.

> Guard: Grab the drainpipe

> Guard: Grab the drainpipe

> Guard: Don't let go. Enter the building through the windows. Run as fast as you can towards the ground floor.

> Guard: Keep running

> Guard: Keep running

> Guard: Keep running


> Demon: Two can play at this game. Or perhaps more than that, even.

[PavlovianCat]

> Other Guy: Oh no. Who'd have ever thought it'd come to this. If you want to live, you need... you need... Plot Significance.


(PS: Someone should really IP ban that demon to keep it from making any more commands)

[Wessolf27]

Insgnifiguard: break out of it. Break out of it. BREAK out of IT! BREAK OUT OF IT! BREAK OUT OF IT! BREAK OUT OF IT! BREAK OUT OF IT!!!

[Professor zobot]

Well damn. Now I feel like a douche. Who woulda thought a demon would make me realize I was being an ass?

No one deserves to die while being mocked and teased and tormented.

==>Other Guy: Be saved by a completely unexpected occurrance.

==>Tristan: Start to feel guilty and realize a true protagonist wouldn't abandon a partner. Seek him out and try to make things right. If this is no longer possible, become a hard boiled loose canon(ical) cop on the edge to solve the mystery of your partner's murder.

==>Other Guy: Suddenly be Seb in a scene transition that prolongs your fate and buys you time.

[Chaos Waltz]

> Guard dude: Hear "I don't like you. I don't particularly like demons either, but I definitely don't like you."

> Guard dude: Hear "You are a useless wretch. Worthless."

> Guard dude: Hear "You have only one option: to seek redemption"

> Guard dude: Hear "Make this vow, and perhaps we will guide you to safety"

. . .

> Demon: Two can play at this game. Or perhaps more than that, even.

Mr. Twiddlefeet> Fight off the demon long enough for Insignifiguard to get away.

[ZenFeline]

Cover her eyes.

Cover her eyes.

FUCK THE DEMON. COVER HER GODDAMN EYES.

DO IT. NOW.

IT'S EITHER BECOME IMPORTANT OR YOU DIE. DO YOU HEAR ME?! D I E I CAN NOT LITERALLY MAKE THIS ANY CLEARER FOR YOU.

Choose.

Ignore us. Do what YOU want to do.

Choose.

Your name. You have one you know. Long ago, before you became a faceless guard. You're nameless because of fear. Fear of death. Death is about to take you forever. There's really only one way out. Take back your goddamned name and fight. Stand up, ARTHUR.

MEANWHILE:
Gwiddy: Notice Twiddlefeet is gone.

[Mibbs]

Unnamed guard: Die

[Yamtaggler]

>Anonymous Guard: Sink into the cold embrace of an unmarked grave.

[Godbot]

Quick!

> Enter name

[Oven]

>Other guy: Break out in song and dance
Or alternatively >become the original minion.

[Cheshire Fox]

Another command is hardly needed at this stage but...

>He who is to become TheNamelessOne: Surive somehow, but be forever more CURSED!

[Torquemadras Trump]

Legend of the Hunter - 40

You can't move. It is as if sharp spikes protrude from every direction, making even the most minute movement impossible, or AT LEAST FINAL. The broken sword starts digging into your skin. And you try to think, faster than you ever thought was necessary.

You should offer yourself up instead as a vessel for the demon. Your guardly demeanour will lend it easier access to the depths of this city's bureaucracy, letting it rip it apart from within if that's what floats its boat.

Plus, that'll hopefully free the pretty girl, be pretty damn selfless, and maybe get your life saved later down the line by those exorcists.

The only thing you can think of is to become the demon's new vessel. Suddenly, you gain NEW-FOUND CONFIDENCE in the FAKE EXORCIST'S SKILLS. It certainly won't be a pleasant experience, but you could survive once the demon takes hold of you. And the exorcists would hopefully free you later. It's a small chance, but a chance nonetheless.

You could be useful to the demon.



Bzzt! Time's over, no more fun and games.
I see you thought of a little deal.
You want me to discard this poor woman and be my new vessel?
Good thinking. Some other demon might've taken you up on the offer.
But I politely refuse, chrahaha! As a matter of fact... my pretty lovely host here is just soooo much better at making people drop their guard. She can be veeery convincing.

Aw, forget it. You're way too ugly to be significant.

Unlike you.
Look at the bright side, fucker: the world will be a less ugly place now.

Slowly cut open your throat, and bleed to death in a painful, yet delightingly humorous manner!

Oh shit. No. Nonononono. You're not gonna die here. You feel how your own hand presses the blade against your neck, and- fuck it- this can't be how you die, this can't-

Insgnifiguard: break out of it. Break out of it. BREAK out of IT! BREAK OUT OF IT! BREAK OUT OF IT! BREAK OUT OF IT! BREAK OUT OF IT!!!

Cover her eyes.

What?

Cover her eyes.

FUCK THE DEMON. COVER HER GODDAMN EYES.

DO IT. NOW.

Quick, as long as the demon enjoys his little moment.
I can help you. The VOICES can help you.
The demon is still hiding. He has to rely on my senses. He cannot control what he cannot see. Cover my eyes.
This is all I can do...

Something hot, something that feels like molten metal, drips from your throat. You're getting a little dizzy just thinking about that. And about escaping.
But how are you supposed to move, even? You just wanted to be... insignificant. You can't possibly... You just... can't...

IT'S EITHER BECOME IMPORTANT OR YOU DIE. DO YOU HEAR ME?! D I E I CAN NOT LITERALLY MAKE THIS ANY CLEARER FOR YOU.

Choose.

Ignore us. Do what YOU want to do.

Choose.

Your name. You have one you know. Long ago, before you became a faceless guard. You're nameless because of fear. Fear of death. Death is about to take you forever. There's really only one way out. Take back your goddamned name and fight. Stand up, ARTHUR.

...you ARE nameless because of fear. Yeah. You don't fear pain. You fear DEATH, AND FEAR ITSELF.

YOUR FUCKING NAME IS ARTHUR, AND YOU WILL FIGHT. FOR. YOUR. NAME!

> Guard THE GODDAMN ARTHUR: Jump off the roof, grab the drainpipe on the way down.

And then... you break free. Somehow. The demon howls in anger. You pay no attention to it. Forward. Onward.

> Guard: Keep running

> Guard: Keep running

> Guard: Keep running

What the fuck is happening here?!
My control is absolute! The dark claw of mind CANNOT be escaped!

> Demon: Two can play at this game. Or perhaps more than that, even.

Is that you?! You're just voices from beyond! You have no power! I... I will stop you, I will mutilate this fucker's mind until his, his fucking skull bursts apart, and then, how you're gonna interfere THEN, hu?!

>Other guy: Break out in song and dance.

...nevermind.



And Arthur, the once-anonymous guard, hears the call of MELODY.
He promptly shows his breathtaking dance maneuvers without the least bit of hesitation. If there was a dancefloor in mid-air, he'd rule it. He'd be the KING OF AIRBORNE ARENAS. Although those lightning-fast steps don't have anything to tread on, they are sure to make him a legend among dance enthusiasts.
Legend meaning he'll die from the impact, because he can't hold onto any drainpipes. His choreography demands no less than ALL LIMBS AVAILABLE FOR SPAZING OUT TO THE BEAT.

It is a death one could only dream of. And, indeed, only SHOULD.

Arthur: Die

How tragically fortunate.
I underestimated that punk.
Good thing he clearly wasn't used to that raging maelstrom of consciousnesses that we call the voices...
I wonder if a certain someone guided him to the voices he needed, hmmm...?
Well, WHOEVER did that...
She was not thorough enough, chrahaha.
I'll think of a suitably hilarious punishment for you later, sweetheart.

>Anonymous Guard: Sink into the cold embrace of an unmarked grave.

Anonymous guard, hu? That's harsh.
Y'know what else would be harsh?

If someone were to blow the head off of Arthur's shoulders.
Just to be sure. With this many fireworks in the air, no-one will notice fast enough.

And then, the beast mage will be ours.



And with him, the ultimate weapon.
Chrahahaha!















==>

show spoiler

hide spoiler

End of Chapter One: The Hunter and the Demon.

Thanks for forty updates, folks. The last updates were kinda crazy. I mean, it turned almost roleplay-ish here... and I love it. I hope I didn't take too many liberties in how your suggestions are represented in the story!

Anyway, the adventure's gonna be on hold for the next two weeks - things are gonna continue on the 8th of October! I'll mention that again in an extra post. There's going to be some extra stuff in the meantime, but no full updates. Let's see!

In any case, thanks and good night!

[Torquemadras Trump]

Thanks for forty updates, people!

I won't be able to update in the next two weeks, but I think this is a nice breaking point. On the 8th of October, I'll continue with Chapter 2. Maybe there's some stuff in the time inbetween- for example, you could ask some things about the story / characters / universe, if you like, or request a doodle! (I'd try to answer any questions in doodle form anyway, really...)

And in any case, I'll post a story recap for new readers. That's all!

Hope to see you all again in two weeks!

[Professor zobot]

I'd kind of like to know more about the Exorcists, if it's not too plot-relevant. How does one actually become one? Is there some special significance to their armor that we don't know about yet?

EDIT: This does tell us something though, guys. In the context of "The Game" we're actually able to fight the Demon if it uses mind control. That's useful intel.

[Mibbs]

Yessss i killed arthur!
Also, could i get a sketch of the city, but with ducks instead of dragons?
(also, also, this is seriously one of my favorite comics atm. Like, not just fanventures but comics. )

[PavlovianCat]

Heh. Torque, you've got a great adventure going here, can't wait for the rest of it.

(PS: Does this world/game have the equivelent of a Revive/Phoenix Down? Or is it more like a Fire Emblem if-you-die-you're-dead kind of thing.)

[Schazer]

Goddamnit this is definitely one of my favourite adventures currently running.

If we can request doodles, I'd like to see Gwyddy and Sebastian growing up. Was the former backsassing the fourth wall from a tender age, or did he pick that habit up later?

[Disva]

Very nice. A little frightening, but, nice.

Question: Exactly what demons has Seb fought?